A tube cutter for cutting two concentric tubes bulged together

The invention relates to an improved tube cutter for making a circumferential cut through a tube section and adjacent a circumferential bulge joining together two partially telescoped tubes forming the tube section. … The tube cutter comprises an elongate housing formed by two mateable housing portions (40, 42) which, when mated, define an axial bore (B) through the housing which accommodates the tube section (14, 32), and a circumferential groove (G) in the housing which accommodates the bulge (34). At least one of the two housing portions carries a cutter bit (76) which is located between the circumferential groove (G) and the adjacent end of the housing and can be radially advanced inward of the axial bore (B) to a cutting position for making the circumferential cut upon rotation of the tube cutter relative to the tube section. … The tube cutter is particularly suitable for use in conjunction with nuclear fuel assemblies.